JTA and MP & Silva have been appointed to leading consultancy roles by the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) as the modernisation of the organisation continues to gather pace under its President, Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al-Sabah, it was announced today.
UK-based JTA will provide brand building and global communications services and MP & Silva, a company with offices around the world, will take on the role of media rights advisor and events management agency.
JTA's role will be help raise the profile of ANOC both in and outside the Olympic Movement, while MP & Silva will help deliver a range of special events for the organisation in 2014, including the first ever ANOC Gala Awards Ceremony as part of the General Assembly in Bangkok from November 5 until 9.
"I am delighted at these significant new appointments," said Sheikh Ahmad.
"ANOC is committed to enhancing the level of support we provide to NOCs (National Olympic Committees) all over the world by professionalising every aspect of our organisation.
"With their wealth of Olympic Movement and sports industry experience, and their genuine best-in-class expertise, I am certain that both of these agencies will make a valuable contribution to our objectives. I look forward to a fruitful partnership in 2014."
Besides launching the new Gala Awards Ceremony, ANOC is set to link up with SportAccord, under its new President Marius Vizer, to launch a series of innovative multi-sport games.
These are expected to include a beach games and an urban games.
Both JTA and MP & Silva are expected to be involved in helping promote these events.
JTA, who worked on Sochi's successful bid to host the 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics and currently work for a number of other organisations involved in the Olympic Movement, including the World Taekwondo Federation and Generations for Peace.
"It is a real honour to become part of this ANOC family and to be supporting one of the most fundamental stakeholders of the Olympic Movement," said Jon Tibbs, chairman of JTA.
"This is an organisation brimming with potential, and we are excited about helping to achieve the vision of Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al-Sabah - and sharing some fantastic stories along the way.
"JTA has decades of Olympic communications experience and an extensive global network: we are ready to draw on all our assets to help ANOC achieve their objectives."
MP & Silva, which has 17 offices around the globe and began in 2004 with the acquisition of the global rights distribution of selected Italian Serie A football, now works with a number of world-class events, including the FIFA World Cup, the Premier League, Formula One and the Asian Games.
"We are extremely honoured to be appointed by ANOC as their media rights advisor and events management agency," said Peter Hutton, joint chief executive of MP & Silva.
"ANOC's plans to develop a brand awareness campaign and new activities in the Olympic calendar are very much welcomed and necessary.
"MP & Silva's had great experience in working in a close media partnership with the Olympic Council of Asia, and we are confident that these organisations can make a great impact in the way they organise sporting events and communicate their values through the international broadcasting media.
"We look forward to working with ANOC and using our innovative media rights expertise to engage with a new generation of sports fans all over the world."